MyWorldBlog - The Latest News From MyWorldAbroad

Study abroad experiences are crucial, because they pull you out of your comfort zone and challenge you to develop skills you never knew you needed. The things you learn about the world (and yourself) while abroad become integrated into your personality and your professional potential, building you into a more world-wise individual and cross-culturally capable worker.

But still, only about one per cent of US students study abroad, and there is some debate in the public sphere about the value of studying abroad. Here at MyWorldAbroad, we can clearly see the huge value of going abroad... Read the full article

MyWorldAbroad provides tons of great advice about what it takes to land a job abroad, and the many different approaches you can take in order to be successful. We're always excited to read real-world stories from young people who have taken the leap and immersed themselves in a foreign workplace.

Alexandra Talty, a freelance journalist, decided to leave her home behind and head to Lebanon to learn Arabic and further develop her career. She talked to Forbes magazine about her decision and also shared some great first-hand advice in her own recent article for the magazine. Why not... Read the full article

If you can't wait to go abroad, but know it just won't happen this year, never fear! There are still plenty of ways you can build international skills on campus. Be sure to make time for extra-curricular cross-cultural activities, like socializing with international students or having a world food pot luck in your dorm. There are lots of fun ways to bring the world to your doorstep! And you can also gain serious international chops (and resume-building skills) on your home campus by taking these suggestions:

Available as a Kindle or paperback, this book is an essential resource for anyone hoping to pursue a career in the non-profit sector.This comprehensive resource will provide you with indispensable advice, relevant strategies and non-profit-specific resources to strengthen your job search. It's practical, easy-to-read and it will give you tips on self-assessment, networking, negotiating and more. This particular version is specifically written for first-time job seekers. Check out Idealist's other books if you're a mid-career professional looking to shift into the international development... Read the full article

Language learning is challenging, but extremely rewarding and a great career booster for any aspiring international professional. One of the most common pieces of advice that we hear from students and young professionals who are returning from abroad is that they wish they'd spent more time learning the languages of their host countries before they left North America. Many also tell us they wish they'd spent more time actually speaking the host language while they were abroad.

If you're preparing to head abroad to study, work or volunteer, we recommend starting your language... Read the full article

Non-profit organization United Planet is hosting a photo and video contest. Submissions are due by August 21st, so if you're just heading abroad for your summer adventure, keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready!

According to the guidelines, all entries "should aim to illustrate the ideas of cross-cultural understanding, friendship and supporting one another" at home or abroad.

Check out the official submission rules here.

The grand prize is a two-week United Planet volunteer quest, so don't miss this opportunity!

A career in international development appeals to a wide variety of people, since it has the potential to satisfy wanderlust as well as the desire to do good. It is one of the most cross-cultural industries in existence, and as such it requires excellent communication skills and a high level of global intelligence.

Whether you're working in the field with an NGO, or in a think tank developing policy, a career in this field will require you to be extremely culturally literate. The good news is that becoming culturally literate is a highly enjoyable and rewarding experience, and the... Read the full article

Want to hear from successful, career-minded women about what studying abroad did for them? Career Girls is an organization focused on highlighting female role models from across all industries in order to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders.

We especially love these study abroad-focused interview videos, and we've linked a few below for your viewing pleasure. Take a look!

For first-hand accounts of career-building and exciting experiences abroad, check out the Stories From Abroad area of the main MyWorld site!

Like it or not, in the globalized, online world, you are constantly building your personal brand. What is a "personal brand," you ask? Well, in simple terms, it's your reputation and what you represent publicly.

Most young people starting out on an internationally-oriented career have not yet had the opportunity to develop a cohesive personal brand; but you can think of it this way: if a potential employer were to Google your name, what would s/he see on the first page of results? Would the results represent your professional/personal values and support your career goals?

Sometimes an ID card is more than just an ID card! The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is "the only internationally accepted proof of bona fide student status" worldwide and no student should head abroad without one!

ISIC cards are issued in over 125 countries worldwide. All students over the age of 12, of any nationality, can purchase a card at an affordable price and reap the rewards.

So, what are the rewards, you ask? As well as being able to prove your student status internationally, the ISIC card allows you access over 42,000 exclusive benefits around the... Read the full article